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GIRO STAGE 19 - ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY

11:52·28 May 2021

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

Ineos rode the climb as a sustained effort at known power, not reacting to attacks — a time-trial mindset that costs rivals more than chasing surges would.
When your teammates control pace, you conserve energy for the final 2km where your own effort actually decides the result.
Burning a key lieutenant on a stage win the day before a summit finish can leave your GC leader isolated when it matters most.
Letting a rival take time you can afford to give is a legitimate tactical choice — know your buffer and don't panic when someone goes up the road.

TOPICS

CYCLING RECOVERY

Bernal is cracking but not breaking. One big day to go for Bernal.

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KEY QUOTES

“What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna ride this climb like the time trial. I'm gonna look at my parameter. I know what I can put out from the bottom all the way to the top. That will get me to the top in the lowest possible time. That's how I'm gonna ride it.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“EuroSport consistently hide behind the fact that, oh we're getting let down by the host broadcaster, you're not getting let down if it happens consistently. Like you're in an abusive relationship, EuroSport. You need a plan B here, it's not good enough to have paying customers and your commentator just gone over and been let down by the house broadcaster.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“Tomorrow we're finishing up Alt-Motta. We 4,200 meters vertical tomorrow. That's all packed into the second half of the stage on 165k stage.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

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EPISODE TRANSCRIPT3 SECTIONS

Sagan's Custom Jersey and Stage Setup

Roadman at stage 19 of the Hero Natalia, let's cue that intro! The big question is this, how do we use cycling as a tool to improve our health, our happiness and our long chances? That is the question, and this podcast will give you the answers. My name is Anthony Walsh, and welcome to the Roadman Podcast. Roadman, welcome back to stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia. We only have tomorrow and the next is final time trial in Rome to go. And we are, we are finit all for this year's Giro d'Italia. So I've almost made it folks. I've almost made it true. Another grand tour. Always daunting to start but always rewarding in hindsight. I can take many experiences that are quite like that. Boy Grayson springs to mind. It's not fun at the time but you look back on it with fond memories. Roadman today we've seen some maybe foreshadowings of the battle ahead tomorrow. And that's what I want to get into but before I do a reminder is always about Patreon. The link is in the bio down below. I'm a full-time podcaster these days. Roadman is the main source. The The roadmap podcast is the main source of my income, it's the main source of my time going into it. So please do think about paying me for my work. It's over on patreon.com forward slash Anthony under scar watch, price of a point of beer. Once a month keeps the show on their other folks. What did I notice before today's stage? Well, today was 166k and we finished, as I mentioned yesterday, up pretty rough climb up to Maria. Before the show kicked off today, I had noticed Sagann who we talked about yesterday and we gave you the number one rule of the jungle. The line is hungry, the line eats and the line is certainly peacocking around today on his new Tarmac SL7 Chick-L-A-Mino jersey in the bag so it's a custom Chick-L-A-Mino paint job for Peter Sagann. It's pretty outrageously balling I have to say. Not many riders except Sagann could pull that off. At the stage today, look, any of us are going back to the tables and they have to be happy. Bernal has put time into his closest rivals on paper. They are definitely happy. But we've talked about this a lot of times on the podcast. Mr Momentum has shifted. He's moved the dress and Mr Momentum is with Yates at the moment. So look, we'll break down the key parts of the stage. Just the GC battle is what I'm most concerned about on the podcast. I haven't forced too long or too often about the break and the break didn't make that a finish today. And in part due to James Knox, who set a crazy pace on the front for a quick step and you all made it, I made a sprung after that attack was the springboard for Yates to go, Vlasov followed, Caruso attacked and Bernal didn't follow. And at this point, we're around six kilometers to go when Yates went again and he gapped everyone. So Yates is solo, Vlasov's behind, we're Karuso and just a couple of other, you know, Ben is a couple of other lads in there. I'm looking at Bernal and I'm thinking, there's one of two things going on here. Oider, he has no legs and he's gonna crack or he is exceedingly confident today. And it turned out it was the latter. Maybe exceedingly confident, state and strongly. maybe there's a little bit of energy management in this. But Bernard looked at this climate, and he also done this for years. If you think back to Wiggins, not an out and out climber per se, but what they figured out, with Dave Braylesford and Tim Kerish and the performance directors there, these climbs, they're about riding from point A to point B as fast as you can, covering that distance as fast as you can. Now that sounds obvious, but that's not how climbs have been written all through the years. We had the great romance of these climbs with the Pantanis and Nibali carrying that tradition through of Sloane Down and big attacks. And Wigan said, not fuck all that.

Ineos Lieutenants Deliver for Bernal

What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna ride this climb like the time trial. I'm gonna look at my parameter. I know what I can put out from the bottom all the way to the top. That will get me to the top in the lowest possible time. That's how I'm gonna ride it. And that's what we're seeing a reversion to mean from any else today. We've seen them going back to that tradition of just riding the climb as hard as they could, getting Bernal from Point A, the bottom of the climb to Point B, the top of the climb, in as fast a time as possible. And how did they do that? They used two of their key lieutenants. And like Bernal owes these lads, someone went to beer, Castro Vecchio and Martinez, because they were unreal. They rode, they knew what power they could hold, they knew what power Bernal could hold, didn't respond to those big surges and they slowly reeled in the competition and Castro Vecchio who can just ride kilometer after kilometer at that oil watering pace. Done his job. Martin Eyes came true who was the savior of a slash motivator the other day and you've seen some great memes with Martin Eyes that moment where he turns around to G up. Egan Bernal has great memes floating around about that and I'm sure they will for a long time to come. He wrote another absolutely unrelenting pace and he brought back everybody except Yates. So my initial concern when Yates attacked with 6k to go was, Bernard could be losing the 0 right now. But Martiness and Castro Vecchio, they just rolled everybody off their wheel. Cardi from me looked isolated. Betio, you'd have to question Betio, yeah they won the stage yesterday with Betio, but He's been his key lieutenant in the mountains. It just depends how they're prioritizing stuff. They obviously prioritize that stage when yesterday over the helping Kerti today. Now, that works well in hindsight, but if Betteo gets forged yesterday and he's not there to help Kerti today, you have to question the wisdom of it, but Kerti is back on GC. What is he? Kerti's fifth on GC at seven minutes, 10. Could he maybe have pushed for the podium? Look, no, probably not. So maybe he could get up to sixth, obviously the stage win was more important for that. That kurtie has faded in the last week at a year where we had seen him going on the attack. Martin has finally pulled over. It would have been about two k to go and we got to see what Bernal had left. And he had a bit left. He initially rode away from Cruz on Yoe. I made it and then I made it, got back up to him and the two of them sort of rode a little bit of a two up. And, Branau was cool and he was calm today. I don't think he had the best legs in the world. He used up as teammates, he knew they wouldn't change up pace. And then when the time was right, they were about 2k to go, he took it up. Yeah sure, he suffered a little bit in the last kilometer and Yewa made a drop done but look in the end, if we look at the results, he's taken time out of his key rival. He's taken time out of Caruso, who was second on GC and has extended his lead. He's given away a little bit of time to Simon Yates, but he had a little bit of time to give away. So all in all, any else, they have to be happy with today and would only one more day to get through in the Giro and Castra Vecchio looking super strong. Martin is looking super strong. We're riding through Felipe Organa's hometown tomorrow. So that's gonna be extra motivation for him to put on a show. I don't see Bernadal losing the jersey. Simon Yates can't he tee for butter either. So, you know, if it was super close between Caruso Bernal, you might be kind of thinking, yeah, Caruso can tee tee, this could be a bit of trouble. But I don't see Bernal lose on much time to Caruso tomorrow.

Yates Wins, Eurosport Coverage Rant

I do see him losing some more time to Yates, but not enough time that he's going to lose the giro. Bernal's one day left to win this giro, the tally. One day, come on, egg on. Suck it up for one more day and bring it home for Colombia. So today's stage, Simon Yates took a great win. The stage win almost seemed secondary today because he was going after that GC time. won today in four hours two minutes and 55 seconds 11 seconds later we've seen Yewa and Meida who's been super for the last two weeks at his year. God knows what happened on that forest day when he lost the four minutes on the forest uphill finish. Egan Bernal was toward 28 seconds, bagged himself a few bonus seconds as well. Caruso was fourth, the last off was fifth so we're really seeing the cream rising to the top on these difficult mountain stages. That leaves GC Bernal 81 hours, 2 minutes 29 seconds buffer over Damiano, Curuso from Bahrain, victorious, 2 49 roundout to podium is Simon Yates and we have Vlasov and Hugh Kerti making up the top five. Tomorrow arguably we're gonna have to call it the Queen's stage because the fucking coverage was so bad for the actual Queen's stage. I'm hoping we get a bit of footage tomorrow. Like listen to a radio broadcast, static images in the finish line last day was shocking. Like Like where was the plan B with that last time? Like RCOI, the company they're delivering the footage for this year at Italia, every time they fuck up the coverage, so much so last year the UCOI elected not to use them even though they were the host broadcaster for the world championships. But EuroSport consistently hide behind the fact that, oh we're getting let down by the host broadcaster, you're not getting let down if it happens consistently. Like you're in an abusive relationship, EuroSport. You need a plan B here, it's not good enough to have paying customers and your commentator just gone over and been let down by the house broadcaster. EuroSport need to own that, they need to have a plan B. Like there was no WIFI coverage on the side of the mountain for the Queen's stage. There was fucking a lot of streaming on Instagram and Twitter, Loiv and I was watching it there and EuroSport couldn't get the coverage, it was scandalous. And tomorrow, another stage that all the fans are looking for, sponsors paying huge money. The maximum amount of viewers are going to tune in today's mountain stages. If they struggle to bring coverage again tomorrow, I'm literally canceling my Europort subscription because it's pathetic. So, that ramp to side stage 20. Tomorrow, we're finishing up Alt-Motta. We 4,200 meters vertical tomorrow. That's all packed into the second half of the stage on 165k stage. It's the fourth time we've ever finished up up Malta and as I said we're riding through Felipe Bogana's hometown tomorrow so let's see can Inioces seal this year all the Talia? I love Eigenbrenal, I'm an unashamed fan of Eigenbrenal so let's see let's hope, let's not let's see let's hope Eigenbrenal can bring it home tomorrow one day to go one day to go jatty tomorrow Roman Hey everybody, it's Anthony again. Really quick, I want to invite you to join arguably the best thing I've ever put out inside the roadman community. It's a challenge. It's a challenge called a 14-day Kickstarter challenge. So regardless of where your fitness is at right now, this is going to be the catalyst for making you faster and making you the leaner. I've created this challenge to take the guesswork out of everything. It's 14 days, training plans, regardless of what your level is there's the master's beginner advanced there's meal plans shopping list and even a video course holding your hand and talking you true at all. So what I recommend you do right now is just stop everything press pause on this audio and go to roadmansoidcling.com forward slash 14 day or check out the link in the that's roadmancycling.com slash 14 day

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happened on Stage 19 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

Stage 19 was a 166km stage finishing on the climb to Alpe di Mera. Simon Yates attacked solo with 6km remaining and took the stage, while Egan Bernal extended his overall lead over Damiano Caruso. Bernal retained a commanding position in the general classification with only one major stage remaining.

How did Egan Bernal protect his lead on Stage 19 of the 2021 Giro?+

Ineos lieutenants Dani Martínez and Jhonatan Castroviejo rode the final climb as a controlled, sustained tempo rather than responding to individual attacks. This approach, rooted in the Brailsford-era Ineos method, kept rivals from gaining significant time without forcing Bernal to dig deep. Bernal finished safely in the lead group and increased his gap over Caruso.

Did Simon Yates win a stage at the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

Yes, Simon Yates won Stage 19 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia after attacking solo with 6km left on the climb to Alpe di Mera. The move was decisive and no other rider could follow his acceleration. It was a significant stage victory but did not threaten Bernal's overall lead.

Who were Bernal's key domestiques at the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

Dani Martínez and Jhonatan Castroviejo were the most prominent Ineos support riders for Bernal in the mountains. On Stage 19 they controlled the pace on Alpe di Mera by riding a steady time trial effort up the climb. This neutralised rival attacks without requiring Bernal to respond to every acceleration individually.

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KEY QUOTES

“What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna ride this climb like the time trial. I'm gonna look at my parameter. I know what I can put out from the bottom all the way to the top. That will get me to the top in the lowest possible time. That's how I'm gonna ride it.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“EuroSport consistently hide behind the fact that, oh we're getting let down by the host broadcaster, you're not getting let down if it happens consistently. Like you're in an abusive relationship, EuroSport. You need a plan B here, it's not good enough to have paying customers and your commentator just gone over and been let down by the house broadcaster.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

“Tomorrow we're finishing up Alt-Motta. We 4,200 meters vertical tomorrow. That's all packed into the second half of the stage on 165k stage.”
Anthony Walsh — Roadman Cycling podcast host

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happened on Stage 19 of the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

How did Egan Bernal protect his lead on Stage 19 of the 2021 Giro?+

Did Simon Yates win a stage at the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

Who were Bernal's key domestiques at the 2021 Giro d'Italia?+

GIRO STAGE 19 - ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY

KEY QUOTES

Sagan's Custom Jersey and Stage Setup

Ineos Lieutenants Deliver for Bernal

Yates Wins, Eurosport Coverage Rant

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

RELATED EPISODES

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

GIRO STAGE 18 - SAGAN DISGRACED?

GIRO STAGE 17 - BERNAL COMES UNDONE

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GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

LIKED THIS EPISODE?

GIRO STAGE 19 - ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY

KEY QUOTES

Sagan's Custom Jersey and Stage Setup

Ineos Lieutenants Deliver for Bernal

Yates Wins, Eurosport Coverage Rant

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

RELATED EPISODES

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

GIRO STAGE 18 - SAGAN DISGRACED?

GIRO STAGE 17 - BERNAL COMES UNDONE

RELATED CONTENT

WHY GIRONA IS THE BEST PLACE IN EUROPE TO TRAIN ON A BIKE

NUMB HANDS WHILE CYCLING: THE FIVE FIXES BEFORE YOU PAY FOR A BIKE FIT

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

LIKED THIS EPISODE?

GIRO STAGE 19 - ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY

KEY QUOTES

1.Sagan's Custom Jersey and Stage Setup

2.Ineos Lieutenants Deliver for Bernal

3.Yates Wins, Eurosport Coverage Rant

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

RELATED EPISODES

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

GIRO STAGE 18 - SAGAN DISGRACED?

GIRO STAGE 17 - BERNAL COMES UNDONE

RELATED CONTENT

WHY GIRONA IS THE BEST PLACE IN EUROPE TO TRAIN ON A BIKE

NUMB HANDS WHILE CYCLING: THE FIVE FIXES BEFORE YOU PAY FOR A BIKE FIT

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

LIKED THIS EPISODE?

GIRO STAGE 19 - ONE HAND ON THE TROPHY

KEY QUOTES

1.Sagan's Custom Jersey and Stage Setup

2.Ineos Lieutenants Deliver for Bernal

3.Yates Wins, Eurosport Coverage Rant

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEVER MISS AN EPISODE

READ THE GUIDE

RELATED EPISODES

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

GIRO STAGE 18 - SAGAN DISGRACED?

GIRO STAGE 17 - BERNAL COMES UNDONE

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WHY GIRONA IS THE BEST PLACE IN EUROPE TO TRAIN ON A BIKE

NUMB HANDS WHILE CYCLING: THE FIVE FIXES BEFORE YOU PAY FOR A BIKE FIT

GIRO STAGE 20 - INEOS HAVE RUINED CYCLING

LIKED THIS EPISODE?

Sagan's Custom Jersey and Stage Setup

Ineos Lieutenants Deliver for Bernal

Yates Wins, Eurosport Coverage Rant

Sagan's Custom Jersey and Stage Setup

Ineos Lieutenants Deliver for Bernal

Yates Wins, Eurosport Coverage Rant